NHS England will ask the public to inform future health policy and shape the way their data is used, as part of a £2m series of engagement events.
One of the key focuses will be the federated data platform; a “key” software tool which will help the NHS join up existing data to cut waiting times and speed up diagnosis.
The events will give people a “genuine means” to affect public policy and have a say on how their data is used.
This work will build on the health service’s summer campaign which showcased how data has delivered significant benefits to patients and society as a whole.
How the NHS vaccination programme was deployed is an example of this, as it used data to predict infection incidence and protect the country’s most vulnerable.
NHS England’s transformation director, Dr Vin Diwakar, described the public’s support in their digital endeavours as “integral” with the best way of garnering it being through “effective and meaningful” discourse.
He said: “Over the course of next year, we will continue to highlight how data is used across the health and care system and it is vital that we involve the public in shaping future data use and how it can save lives.”
Rachel Power, the chief executive of the Patients Association, explained: “Many patients are passionately interested in how their data are used and how they are safeguarded. Our new report on a possible data pact between the NHS and patients shows patients recognise the potential for data use to improve care.”
She continued: “But it also highlighted how sceptical many patients are. The Patients Association supports a transparent and genuine public engagement programme on how patient data are used. We’d encourage all patients to get involved.”
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